text:
Bluestacks Announces Its Second Android Game Console, The GamePop Mini
Bluestacks has already developed its first Android-powered game console, the GamePop, which is currently in its pre-order stage. And it has now unveiled a second option, the GamePop Mini. The new device will also run on Jelly Bean 4.2 and will use the same subscription model as the “full-sized” console, but comes with free hardware.
As you can see from the picture above, the new device has a completely different appearance to the standard GamePop; the main goal of GamePop Mini is to provide the same user experience as GamePop but in a smaller package.
Specifications for the GamePop Mini have not yet been released, but we know that it will be less powerful than the standard model.
The concept is fairly simple, here’s how it works: you visit Bluestacks website and sign up for a 12-month contract with its GamePop service at $6.99 per month. Bluestacks will then send you a free GamePop Mini once you receive this free hardware, you can play its selection of games on your TV till your hearts content. If you decide to cancel your contract, you will need to return the working console to Bluestacks, plus a restocking fee.
Bluestacks has a large selection of games from well known developers, such as HalfBrick, Glue and Intellijoy, among hundreds of others.
The full press release can be read below:
Palo Alto, CA June 28, 2013 – Mobile company BlueStacks has announced a second vehicle to deliver its new GamePop mobile gaming service, the GamePop Mini. Like the recently announced $129 GamePop, the new device will also run Jelly Bean 4.2, connect to TV via a supplied HDMI cable and include a curated group of 500 popular mobile game partners. Announced partners include HalfBrick (Fruit Ninja, Jetpack Joyride), Glu (Blood Brothers), #1 Kids app developer Intellijoy and more. BlueStacks says the 6.99/month subscription will include access to over $200 in paid games for free.
“We have always planned on having a free console option,” said BlueStacks CEO, Rosen Sharma. “The biggest value of the GamePop service is its content – not the box. Hardware costs have come down so fast that we’re able to undercut the rest of the market. With the free promotion we’ve been doing in June we’re already seeing a ton of adoption. That volume then attracts more developers and therefore more and better content. It’s building momentum.”
In addition to announcing a lineup of several popular Google Top Developers, BlueStacks also came out with its “Looking Glass” technology earlier this month. Looking Glass will allow iOS-only developers to easily launch on GamePop. Titles such as iOS’s first major franchise the Fieldrunners series will be able to come to TVs this way.
“We want to make things as easy as possible for app developers to come on board,” said Ben Armstrong of the company’s developer relations team. “There is a virtuous circle between great content and volume that we’re having a lot of early success jumpstarting that so far. The launch titles a service comes with are critical.” Pre-orders went on sale May 9 for GamePop at Gamepop.tv and while not releasing specific numbers, the company reports they are stronger than expected. The free promotion for the GamePop console will end June 30, when it will go back to its regular price of $129. The GamePop Mini will be available for pre-order July 1. It is slated to ship this winter.


text:
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and America’s beverage companies announced today that work will begin in Coahoma, Panola, Quitman and Tunica Counties on the Balance Calories Community Initiative, a focused effort to help people reduce the calories and sugar they get from beverages. By working to change behavior within these communities, the initiative aims to help reduce beverage calories consumed per person nationally by 20 percent by 2025 – the single-largest voluntary effort by an industry to combat obesity.
(CLARKSDALE, Miss.) – The Alliance for a Healthier Generation and America’s beverage companies announced today that work will begin in Coahoma, Panola, Quitman and Tunica Counties on the Balance Calories Community Initiative, a focused effort to help people reduce the calories and sugar they get from beverages. By working to change behavior within these communities, the initiative aims to help reduce beverage calories consumed per person nationally by 20 percent by 2025 – the single-largest voluntary effort by an industry to combat obesity.
The Community Initiative is a targeted component of the national agreement reached in 2014 by the Alliance, The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group, PepsiCo and the American Beverage Association to cut beverage calories in the American diet. Communities with high obesity rates have been specifically selected to participate in this initiative in an effort to gain new insights into the marketing and distribution of smaller portion and low- and no-calorie options in areas where the obesity challenge is the greatest.
The Community Initiative will bring an aggressive, multi-pronged approach in communities where beverage calorie reduction has lagged behind the national trend. Areas in the Mississippi Delta have among the highest rates of obesity in the country, so it’s important to understand the mix of actions that can make a difference in shifting engrained consumer behaviors, preferences and purchases.
"In the effort to curb the obesity epidemic in the United States, it is critical to reduce the number of calories consumed through beverages,” said Dr. Howell Wechsler, CEO of the Alliance. “Focusing efforts in the Mississippi Delta, where we see some of the highest obesity rates in the country, is a tremendous step forward. We applaud the beverage industry for focusing on these communities and look forward to working alongside of them to implement, track and evaluate the impact of this work.”
“We’re eager to take our Community Initiative into the Mississippi Delta to see how we can drive changes that help people reduce their beverage calories and achieve more balance,” said Susan Neely, president and CEO of the American Beverage Association. “Our companies are putting competition aside and going into communities where the obesity challenge is the greatest to put forward solutions that will make a real difference in peoples’ lives.”
“As mayor, I am very concerned about the health and wellness of our Clarksdale citizens,” said Clarksdale Mayor Bill Luckett. “I am very pleased that America's leading beverage companies, The Coca-Cola Company, Dr Pepper Snapple Group and PepsiCo, together with the American Beverage Association and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, have chosen Clarksdale and the Mississippi Delta as participants in the Balance Calories Initiative. Many of us need to achieve more balanced lifestyles. By working together with these fine organizations, we can help our citizens be more informed about the beverage calories they consume.”
“Just to brag a bit about Clarksdale, we are the fourth city in the United States to be selected for the launch of this program,” added Luckett. “The other cities are New York, Los Angeles and Little Rock. Thank you again for putting Clarksdale in the forefront and helping out our citizens.”
With support from the Alliance, the companies will seek partnerships with local organizations and community leaders to increase the scope and impact of the initiative and drive change in the marketplace for the health and well-being of their communities.
An independent evaluator – Keybridge – was selected to evaluate and publicly report on the companies’ progress toward this calorie reduction goal.
Companies will try out a range of marketplace activities to change consumer behavior, including:Making no- and lower-calorie and smaller-portion beverages more available in stores Providing incentives for people to try these options Displaying new calorie awareness messages at points of sale
The companies will use tailored tools that combine their strengths in marketing, innovation and distribution to overcome barriers to consumption of no- and low-calorie and smaller-portion beverage choices. Throughout their communities, consumers will see a distinct change in how beverages are offered and marketed, including:More marketing of no- and lower-calorie options in stores and restaurants Smaller portion sizes emphasized, such as 7.5 ounce mini-cans and 12 ounce bottles and cans New calorie awareness information on coolers, vending machines and fountain equipment Companies may also utilize tools like taste tests, sampling programs, coupons and other incentives, and in-store displays featuring lower-calorie products
Each company will implement its own strategy and review what engages the consumer, as well as what doesn’t. These lessons will be used to improve the effectiveness of the initiative, with the best strategies being applied elsewhere in Mississippi as well as other cities where they might work. All of these efforts serve the common goal of reducing calories consumed from beverages in the American diet.
This latest effort brings the number of communities that are participating in the Community Initiative to five. Communities within Los Angeles, Little Rock, Ark., and New York were the first to join and four counties in the Mississippi Delta, were announced in conjunction with the Montgomery and Lowndes Counties, in Alabama. The effort will eventually include 8-10 communities nationwide.
“America’s beverage companies are working to make sure people have the options and information to achieve a balanced lifestyle. Our goal is to help create effective and lasting changes for the communities we serve,” Neely said.
About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation
The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, empowers kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits, by ensuring the environments that surround them provide and promote good health. To learn more and join the movement, visit www.HealthierGeneration.org.
About the American Beverage Association
The American Beverage Association is the national trade organization representing the broad spectrum of companies that manufacture and distribute non-alcoholic beverages in the United States, including regular and diet soft drinks, bottled waters and water beverages, ready-to-drink teas, sports drinks, energy drinks, 100 percent juices and juice drinks. ABA and its member companies have a longstanding commitment to being part of the solution to obesity. For more information, please visit www.deliveringchoices.org and www.ameribev.org.

domain: news


text:
PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa – There’s a super new Isuzu bakkie engine on show in the foyer of the Port Elizabeth plant here that represents, the automaker says, ”the heart of the Isuzu KB bakkie”.
It’s just one of the 25-million Isuzu diesel engines produced for global markets over the years to power various commercial industries but, the automaker says, ”represents the heart of the new company” and is shows have things are done the Isuzu way.
The Port Elizabeth technical services staff, says Dominic Rimmer of IMSA technical services, were given the customising project but apparently many staffers chipped in with advice on getting the engine in perfect shape before the launch of Isuzu Motors SA earlier in 2018.
Rimmer told The Corner the core team who had just over a month to get an Isuzu D-Teq common-rail diesel unit looking like one of the customised engines on display at Isuzu Motors in Japan.
”Diesel engines are the cornerstone of Isuzu products,” Rimmer added. ”As the world’s largest commercial diesel engine manufacturer, Isuzu has produced more than 25-million to date.”
And they appear not only in Isuzu-badged vehicles…
“Companies around the world have chosen Isuzu diesels as indispensable partners for their businesses. They’re used not only in vehicles but also in the construction industry, in ships and forklifts – even in snowmobiles in Antarctica.’
“They’re valued for their combination of power, performance,reliability and sure starting. Customers also like the fact that Isuzu’s advanced technology is continually raising the standards for quiet, low-pollution, industrial diesels.”
‘SHOWPIECE FOR OASIS’
South African-built Isuzu bakkies and trucks use the same diesel technology. ”We have the engineering expertise that ensures our vehicles meet customers’ requirements.”
Now that skill has been used to produce the shiny diesel engine mounted in the foyer of IMSA’s head office / plant… ”a showpiece in an oasis for conversation among employees”.


text:
White Rose Shopping Centre has announced a set of measures to ensure customer safety when non-essential shops reopen.
From April 12, as part of the easing of the government’s coronavirus lockdown measures those stores deemed ‘non-essential’ will be welcoming customers back. This means we’ll see the return of clothes and technology stores, book shops and other niche retail.
The team at the White Rose Shopping Centre are looking forward to having more shops open at the venue while they also have a number of safety rules in place.
To get the latest email updates from LeedsLive, click here.
Steven Foster, from the White Rose Shopping Centre, said: “We’d like to remind everyone that it’s a legal requirement for all guests coming into the centre to wear a face covering. And one-way systems, signs and floor stickers are there to keep everyone safe.
“We’ll again be managing the capacity of the centre closely, and at busier times you may be asked to queue outside. Please visit our website and social channels for the most up to date information before setting off.
“We’re very much looking forward to opening our doors again and welcoming people back for a safe and enjoyable experience at White Rose Shopping Centre.”
Enter your postcode to see what's happening where you live
There will be a number of safety rules and measures in place for customers to follow when visiting the White Rose Shopping Centre.
- Hand sanitiser points located throughout the centre
- A one-way system to help maintain social distancing, with limited capacity
- A queuing system for entry to the centres if capacity is reached, to help maintain social distancing
- All centre staff wear a face covering
- Signs and floor stickers to remind guests to keep a safe distance apart
Customers are being asked to do their bit by respecting these measures and by wearing face masks - unless exempt.
You can find out all the latest shopping news from our city by visiting our Best in Leeds homepage.


text:
Following a difficult start to the year for Western Europe’s construction industry, which contracted by 6.4% in 2020, economic activity has picked up significantly since the spring and is forecasted to rise sharply and grow by 5.7% in 2021, according to GlobalData. The leading data and analytics company notes that, with the region gradually emerging from its winter lockdown following a steady fall in infection rates and rising vaccinations, the outlook for the regional economy and industry is strong.
According to GlobalData’s report, ‘Global Construction Outlook to 2025, Q2 Update’, the countries that suffered the steepest contractions in 2020 such as France, Spain, Italy, and the UK, will be amongst the fastest growing in 2021.
Moustafa Ali, Economist at GlobalData, comments: “Following the gradual reopening across Europe in response to falling COVID-19 infection rates and successful vaccine rollouts, economic activity has picked up again in recent months with sectors such as manufacturing and construction picking up significantly.”
“Regional governments have also put in place significant monetary and fiscal stimulus measures to support the economy, and this will drive the recovery in the near term, particularly for subsectors such as residential and infrastructure, which will be boosted by significant government spending pledges and the low interest rate environment across the region.”
Despite the ongoing recovery, significant downside risks have emerged in recent weeks, including the supply chain difficulties and the rise of the highly infectious Delta variant, which could delay the gradual reopening and may lead to the reimposition of stricter lockdown measures.
Ali adds: “The sharp rise in activity across all sectors of the economy due to pent up demand has led to supply side issues arising, with materials such as plastics, cement, timber, and lumber all in shortage due to excess demand and supply chain difficulties. The upsurge in the price of raw materials and other commodities are a major downside risk for the continued recovery in the construction industry.”
Read the article online at: https://www.worldcement.com/europe-cis/16072021/globaldata-construction-activity-in-western-europe-set-to-pick-up-sharply-and-grow-by-57-in-2021/
You might also like
The company's operating result has risen to a record level – group revenue is at €21.2 billion (+4%), with the result from current operations (RCO) at €3.0 billion (+29%).


text:
Priti tells UK cops not to be harsh
British home secretary Priti Patel has told police forces not to be “heavy-handed” in enforcing the coronavirus lockdown after reports that some overzealous officers were rummaging through shopping trolleys and fining people for buying such “non-essential” items as crisps and wine.
Police have also created online forms for people to report potential breaches of the lockdown which was imposed on March 23 to slow the spread of the deadly disease.
Civil liberties campaigners are furious. “Big Brother Watch” director Silkie Carlo said the “suggestion of police rummaging through people’s shopping trolleys is outrageous” as she questioned the legal basis for conducting such searches.
Random examples of such behaviour have caused causing #policestateUK to trend on Twitter.
Under government rules, people are allowed to go out to do “essential” shopping and get medicines and also leave home once a day for exercise. It is true a minority have been abusing the rules. Some police chiefs are calling for laws to ban Britons from driving long distances and flouting rules to exercise more than once a day ahead of a warm and sunny Easter weekend.
Northamptonshire Police said the “three-week grace period is over” and threatened that his officers may even soon start “checking the items in baskets and trolleys”.
Its chief constable Nick Adderley said: “We will not at this stage be starting to marshal supermarkets and checking the items in baskets and trolleys to see whether it’s a legitimate and necessary item. But again, be under no illusion, if people do not heed the warnings, and the pleas that I’m making today, we will start to do that.”
He added: “If things don’t improve, and we don’t get the compliance we would expect, then the next stage will be road blocks and it will be stopping people to ask why they are going, where they’re going.”
The police were slapped down by Priti, who, as home secretary, is in charge of the police.
“This is not appropriate, let me be clear about that,” she declared.
She would “absolutely not” be adding to the powers of the police.
“This is not about heavy-handed police enforcement,” she went on. “I really must emphasise that.”


text:
IT'S what every woman already knows - what the size on clothes labels actually means varies widely from shop to shop.
A size 14 was different by several centimetres in different high street chains, a consumer group found.
But now an EU move could end the headache by scrapping the traditional British sizes - such as 10, 12 and 14 - and replacing them with the same measurements as men's, such as 32, 34 and 36.
A Dorothy Perkins size 14 bust measurement is 97cm compared to 93cm at Marks & Spencer, according to Which? magazine.
Waist measurements vary from 76cm at Next and M&S to 77cm at Tesco and 78cm at Dorothy Perkins. Tesco uses the biggest hip measurement at 103cm compared to 101.5cm at Dorothy Perkins and 100cm at M&S.
But the current system for women's clothes sizes could become a thing of the past, according to Which?
The consumer group says new EU guidelines could mean bust, waist, hip and height measurements replacing traditional labels.
Frank Moore, who chairs the team at theEuropean Committee for Standardisation
which has proposed the new measurements, said: "It could be the end of the size 10. It will take some time but will mean better sizing for consumers.
"The sizing will happen on the Continent first and consumers here will get used to it after seeing it there."
An M&S spokeswoman said it updated its sizes every 10 years following extensive research.
Meanwhile taking a number of different sizes into the fitting room will remain routine for millions of women who can not say for sure what dress size they are.
However, the move for standard sizes has not been welcomed by everybody, with some stores claiming their clothing ranges are designed to fit their type of customer rather than standard measurements.
While many publish their measurements online, research has uncovered so-called 'vanity' sizing, where clothes are bigger than labels suggest to flatter customers.
So a woman who might be a size 12 in one shop can go to another and find she's a flattering 10.


text:
Research conducted by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) revealed this week that fewer Americans drove less over the last decade than ever before.
For the first time since the introduction of the internal combustion engine, vehicle use rose slower than the U.S. population did, as reported by Reuters.
Fuel consumption is "unchanged" since 2002, whereas the U.S. population has increased by over 26 million people, or 9 percent, according to the study.
In 2012, American drivers purchases 172 billion gallons of diesel and gasoline, which is the same amount that was purchased in 2002.
The U.S. population rose from 288 million people to 314 million during the same time period.
Many factors have contributed to the lower number, including tougher fuel economy standards for light trucks and cars, and the use of biofuels.
Americans were driving vehicles fewer miles before the recession started, though patterns started to shirt around 2004, according to the study.
Once more drivers were hitting the road, pump and crude oil prices increase.
Total number of miles driving in the U.S. peaked around 3.031 trillion in2007, then fell during the recession, before stabilizing.
Rural road use is down over 13 percent since 2002.
The study also listed an "aging" population as a factor, since the number of work-related journeys decrease the older you get.
Online shopping and other Internet transactions could be reducing the amount of trips U.S. citizens take, but the official number has not been released yet.


text:
Britain wants tech startups to boost the economy. And Prime Minister David Cameron nominated East London as a zone for the cool companies to play in.
How much do you know about Tech City?
What was Tech City's earlier nickname?
- Silicon Alley
- Silicon Chipshop
- Silicon Roundabout
What main tube station serves Tech City?
- Old Street
- Bow Road
Tech City hired its CEO from a Web giant. Where did Joanna Shields come from?
Web creator Sir Tim Berners Lee has an organisation in Tech City. What is it called?
- The World Wide Web Consortium
- The Open Data Institute
- The Super Semantic Meme Collider
Since Tech CIty opened, Google has announced plans for a £1 billion headquarters in London - next to which railway terminus?
- London Bridge
- Liverpool Street
- King's Cross
East London hosts an annual tech jobs fair for graduates. What is it called?
- Silicon MilkRoundabout
- Techs and the City
- WebWork London
A French startup fair has expanded into London since the Tech City buzz started. What is its name?
Tech City could claim to be operating "by Royal Appointment" after a visit from the Prince last year. What tech firm's East London headquarters did he open?
TRUE or FALSE: once renovated, the Old Street roundabout will become the largest "civic space" in Europe
How much money is the UK government spending on Old Street roundabout renovation project?
- £20 million
- £35 million
- £50 million
George Osborne likes to welcome tech companies to London. Which offices did he NOT open?
The London Olympics' Press Centre in East London is being turned into a tech hub. What is the name of the company doing t?
- City 2.0
Which telecom firm has an Innovation Lab at Tech City?
Intel offers a free service for Tech City firms. What is it?
- Laptop bags
Wat a minute - this is London! What has the Mayor, Boris Johnson done (among other things)?
- Launched a zipwire firm
- Guaranteed bicycle access to all East London
- Opened Amazon's HQ
Result: [SCORE-MESSAGE] out of [NB-OF-QUESTION-MESSAGE]
Not interested in Tech City?.... Or do you feel it is all just a London-based dream of no interest to the rest of the country?
Nice work - keep following the social media buzz.
Way cool dude! You probably answered the quiz while drinking latte at the Shoreditch Grind, right?


text:
The recently newly opened cafe, Simply @ the jug, has created a host of additional jobs for the local area.
In a throwback to the old ‘Brown Jug’ the newly named business ‘Simply @ the Jug’ has created 12 new jobs for the town.
Alongside its popular bakery serving all matter of quality sweet treats, the cafe serves homemade food daily including a new menu launched for vegans, gluten free and simply slimming customers, all made fresh to order .
the oldest cafe in town since 1953 is still using old recipes and continues to use local produce and suppliers to support local.
The cafe is also helping those affected by the closure of Two local companies and so is offering discounts for Thomas Cook & Wrightbus.


text:
Why 86 400 teamed up with Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club
- 15 December, 2020 14:35
Digital bank, 86 400, has teamed up with Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club (TSLSC) to raise money for the renovation of the Sydney clubhouse, pencilled in for early next year.
To help the club meet its fundraising target, 86 400 has pledged $25,000 towards the redevelopment project and will also donate an extra $10 for every new customer who tries 86 400 during the partnership using a special code.
To drive awareness, the clubhouse has also been temporarily transformed with a colourful, summer-inspired mural, featuring a host of characters that represent Australian bank notes. The clubhouse’s temporary new look – which took 10 days to transform with 86 400’s unique brand colour palette of aqua, purple, red and blue – will be on show until early January 2021.
86 400 chief product and marketing officer, Travis Tyler, told CMO it was a fresh way for the brand to tell people about the digital bank. “It’s a campaign you might not expect from a bank, but we’re not your average bank,” he said.
“The iconic Tamarama clubhouse and the club’s volunteer members have provided an invaluable service to the community for more than 100 years. As well as surf life saving operations, the club runs regular Indigenous outreach programs, public education and first aid training for community groups. Now the club needs our help – in the form of funds for a major $4.56 million upgrade of its clubhouse."
Tyler said the brand’s mission is to get more Australians to know there’s a smarter way to manage their money. “By partnering with the Tamarama Surf Life Saving Club we have an opportunity to share that message, while also helping ensure an iconic Australian clubhouse is around for years to come,” he said.
“From a marketing perspective, we’re all about trying out new and different ways to help raise awareness of 86 400. More often than not, these are approaches that you typically wouldn’t expect from a bank. This campaign, however, is win-win.
"We’re helping the club to raise much needed funds, and if it helps raise the awareness of 86 400 at the same time, that’s an amazing bonus.”
Follow CMO on Twitter: @CMOAustralia, take part in the CMO conversation on LinkedIn: CMO ANZ, follow our regular updates via CMO Australia's Linkedin company page, or join us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CMOAustralia.


text:
SACRAMENTO (KCBS) — Sugary drinks are in the spotlight in Sacramento now that, for the first time, a tax on those beverages has made it though a legislative committee.
Senator Bill Monning of Carmel, who authored the bill that proposes a 1-cent-per-ounce-tax on sugary beverages, said it would finance a physical and nutritional education fund for children.
Chuck Finnie, speaking on behalf of the American Beverage Association, called it a political ploy to raise taxes.
“That $2.8 billion in taxes is going to get passed along down the chain to retail businesses in California and to consumers,” he said.
Monning said raising the price is in fact one of the intents of the bill.
“While it is an excise tax that the manufacturer would have to pay, we fully expect that cost does get passed to the consumer and by raising the cost of sugar-sweetened beverages, there’s a direct correlation in direct consumption,” said Monning.
According to Monning one out of three children born in California in the 2000’s will have preventable diabetes as adults. He said you can increase that statistic to one out of two in low-income, minority communities.
“We have a public health epidemic,” he said.
The bill now heads to the Senate Health Committee on Wednesday.
(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)


text:
Following the recent success of the Xda IIs and the Xda II mini, O2, the premier mobile data devices and services provider, has added another model to its line-up of premium PDA-phones in India. The sleek O2 Xda IIi, is ideally suited for busy professionals who need speed and seamless connectivity.
"Customers will always demand innovation and we need to listen to them to deliver what they want, leveraging the best technology available and packaging it in the sleekest design," said Mark Billington, Chief Executive Officer of O2 Asia.
"Because of the popularity of the Xda II, which sold more than 100,000 units in less than a year, we wanted to give our customers more of what they want," he added.
Priced Rs 45, 888, the new PDA phone is different from the other O2 PDA phones, as it does not stint on multimedia features. Equipped with Intel XScale PXA 272 520MHz processor, a 1.3 mega pixel camera, built-in Wireless LAN, the new phone offers a full suite business productivity tools and applications like Microsoft Outlook, Excel, Word and Internet Explorer.
Commenting on the market share Billington said, "We recognise that the cellular subscriber base in India is growing, and in line with the new business environment, we hope to capture a larger market share in India with the O2 Xda Iii."
Expected to be available early May through creative-e-biz.com Limited outlets in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and other major cities, the O2 Xda Iii comes with a one-year warranty.


text:
Bajaj Auto has been recording positive sales riding on models such as new Avenger and V15. Bajaj sold 1.12 million bikes during the six months ended September with 18 per cent growth compared to 12.6 per cent by the industry, according to data shared by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers.
The company is also targeting huge increase in sales in this financial year with two new launches- Kratos VS400 and a V15-based new motorcycle. "We'll have to see the trends post the festivals if the momentum is sustained. New launches on the V platform and other launches are expected to push Bajaj's market share to 22-23 per cent by the end of this financial year," Business Standard quoted Eric Vas, president (motorcycle business) at Bajaj Auto.
The V brand launched in March has already crossed two lakh sales domestically. The next motorcycle under the V brand is expected to be V40. It will be powered by the same 373cc liquid-cooled engine that powers KTM 390 Duke. Bajaj may continue to use a small amount of metal from the dismantled INS Vikrant on the V40 model. The connection of V with the Majestic-class aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy is the USP for the brand.
Bajaj Auto's flagship product, Kratos VS400, is expected to enter the market in November. Unveiled as Pulsar CS400 concept at Auto Expo 2014, Bajaj took long two and half years to perfect the product.
Kratos is expected to be powered by a 373cc liquid-cooled, 4-valve triple-spark, fuel-injected mill mated to six-speed transmission. The engine is expected to pump in a power of 40bhp and 30Nm of peak torque. Kratos VS400 is also rumoured to get a base variant with 34bhp of power.


text:
Slow broadband? You won’t be able to switch providers to speed up your Wi-Fi anytime soon
If you’re working from home or trying to stream some much-needed escapist entertainment on Netflix or Disney+ during the ongoing public health crisis but are plagued with slow broadband speeds or abysmal home Wi-Fi, there might not be anything you can do for the foreseeable future. That’s because Openreach, which provides the infrastructure for brands like EE, BT, TalkTalk, Zen, Sky, Giganet and more, has suspended all new installations.
Instead, the company says it will focus its efforts on other “essential work” to ensure that existing customers and businesses are still able to stay connected.
Unfortunately for those suffering from dire broadband speeds hoping to switch to a new fibre from a different supplier will be unable to switch ISPs (Internet Service Providers) as this would require an engineer to enter a customer’s home or flat.
Fortunately, Openreach is making exceptions for “vulnerable” users, like the elderly. Those who completely lack either a broadband or telephone connection could still be served, the company has confirmed. However, these exceptions will likely be judged on a case-by-case basis.
If an engineer is required to enter a home to set-up a connection, protective equipment to reduce the risk of catching or spreading the virus will be worn.
Why your next Amazon Prime delivery could take a month to arrive
- How Virgin Media plans to solve your broadband problems
Openreach says it will continue to complete planned work when it does not involve entering premises. That means a failure in a streetside cabinet that causes a blackout – or significantly reduced speeds – for a number of houses should still be fixed as normal. it could be possible for some customers to help to install necessary home equipment themselves, Openreach has confirmed.
“A large amount of the work we do can be completed outside, and we can often fix problems without entering a customer’s property,” a spokesman for the company told the BBC. “So, we’re advising our engineers not to complete any work inside a property unless it would leave a vulnerable customer with no form of connection, and it’s not possible to provide one by any other means.”
As you’d expect, priority will be given to key infrastructures such as the NHS, pharmacies as well as food retailers and distributors. Engineers for telecom firms have been classified as “key workers” by the Government, which means they’re allowed to continue to go to work. Children of key workers are also allowed to remain in school during normal hours to allow parents to continue to work.
As it stands, Virgin Media – which does not use Openreach’s fibre network and instead uses its own cable infrastructure – says its technicians will still make home visits to help existing customers and install new connections for customers. However, those who are self-isolating or exhibiting flu-like symptoms will have to reschedule the appointment for a fortnight later, the company has added.
Provided this service continues, BT, Sky, EE or TalkTalk customers who do not have enough bandwidth to work from home or stream the content they’d like during the evenings at home, will be able switch to Virgin Media. But Virgin Media customers unsatisfied with their experience will not be able to switch to one of the Openreach brands.
In order to ease some of the pressure on the broadband infrastructure across the UK during the public health crisis, YouTube, Netflix, Amazon Prime Video and Disney+ have all pledged to drop the quality of streaming video to try to keep everyone connected during the lockdown measures. Sony has also limited download speeds for game downloads on PS3 and PS4.
Source: Read Full Article


text:
App Store Developers in South Korea Can Now Use Alternative Payment Providers
Apple has informed App Store developers in South Korea that they can now begin offering users alternative payment systems in their apps. The change comes after the country passed a law that bans app store operators from requiring developers to use their own in-app purchase systems.
Apple's developer update on apps distributed in South Korea begins with Apple saying that the App Store was designed "to be a safe and trusted place to discover and download apps," but continues by explaining that the change is simply to ensure that the company is complying with local law:
The Telecommunications Business Act in South Korea was recently amended to mandate that apps distributed by app market operators in South Korea be allowed to offer an alternative payment processing option within their apps. To comply with this law, developers can use the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement. This entitlement allows apps distributed on the App Store solely in South Korea the ability to provide an alternative in-app payment processing option. Developers who want to continue using Apple's in-app purchase system may do so and no further action is needed.
Apple goes on to caution developers that using the entitlement will cause some App Store features like Ask to Buy and Family Sharing to be unavailable to their users. The reason for this, Apple explains, is because payments that take place outside of the App Store's own payment system cannot be validated. As such:
"Apple will not be able to assist users with refunds, purchase history, subscription management, and other issues encountered when purchasing digital goods and services through an alternative purchasing method."
Apple provides developers with a list of pre-approved payment service providers (PCPs) in South Korea that includes KCP, Incise, Toss, and NICE. Developers can still use a different PSP, but it must meet the same criteria of having a secure payment processing system and an established track record of protecting user privacy. Notably, Apple will earn a 26% commission on all processed sales, despite the Korean regulator's misgivings about commissions taken on third-party payment systems.
Developers interested in using the StoreKit External Purchase Entitlement for apps in South Korea can get started by submitting an entitlement request form.
Apple released iOS 16.3 in late January following nearly six weeks of beta testing. The software update is available for the iPhone 8 and newer, and while it is a relatively minor update, it still includes a handful of new features, changes, and bug fixes.
Below, we've recapped new features in iOS 16.3, including support for physical security keys as a two-factor authentication option for...
Apple's VP of hardware engineering Matthew Costello and product marketing employee Alice Chan recently spoke with Men's Journal and TechCrunch about the new second-generation HomePod in wide-ranging interviews about the smart speaker.
Apple discontinued the original full-size HomePod in March 2021 after multiple reports indicated that sales of the speaker were lackluster, but Chan told Men's ...
Apple's next device with an Apple silicon chip may not be a Mac or an iPad, but rather an advanced external display, according to recent reports.
The display, which is rumored to arrive this year, is expected to sit somewhere between the $1,599 Studio Display and the $4,999 Pro Display XDR – but more exact information about the device's positioning and price point is as yet unknown. While ...
Apple appears to be preparing an iOS 16.3.1 update for the iPhone, based on evidence of the software in our website's analytics logs this week. It's unclear when the update will be released, but it will likely be available at some point in February.
The same logs have accurately foreshadowed the release of several previous updates, including iOS 16.0.3 and iOS 16.1.1 most recently, so they...
Apple has previously announced several upcoming iOS features that are expected to be added to the iPhone this year. Some of the features could be introduced with iOS 16.4, which should enter beta testing soon, while others will arrive later in the year.
Below, we have recapped five new iOS features that are expected to launch in 2023, such as an Apple Pay Later financing option for purchases ...
The Apple Pay Later service that Apple has in the works is set to launch "soon," Apple CEO Tim Cook told CNBC ahead of today's earnings call for the first fiscal quarter of 2023.
Cook said that Apple employees are beta testing the Apple Pay Later feature, which will help Apple boost services revenue. "It will be launching soon," Cook said.
Apple Pay Later was first previewed at the...
Google's Chromium developers are working on an experimental web browser for iOS that would break Apple's browser engine restrictions, The Register reports.
The experimental browser, which is being actively pursued by developers, uses Google's Blink engine. Yet if Google attempted to release it on the App Store, it would not pass Apple's App Review process.
Apple's App Store rules dictate...


text:
The Ambarella Analysts: Rosenblatt Securities analyst Kevin Cassidy has a Buy rating on Ambarella shares and increased the price target from $65 to $82. The analyst said the stock remains his top long idea.
Needham analyst Quinn Bolton maintained a Buy rating and hiked the price target from $63 to $80.
Morgan Stanley analyst Joseph Moore maintained at Overweight and lifted the price target from $79 to $83.
KeyBanc Capital Markets analyst John Vinh maintained a Sector Weight rating.
Summit Insights Group analyst Kinngai Chan upgraded Ambarella from Hold to Buy.
Rosenblatt Sees Ambarella Turnaround: Ambarella's long-term strategy for investing in computer vision-based SoCs to transform the company is paying off, Cassidy said in a note.
The combination of new automotive designs ramping into production and the increase in overall automotive demand helped revenue outperform the high-end of the company's guidance and the consensus, the analyst said.
The company announced more than 14 new design wins in the quarter, he said.
The guidance for $600 million in revenue in through fiscal year 2027 from automotive designs is only a starting point, Cassidy said.
"In summary, Ambarella has turned the corner, in our view. We expect that the company's CV products can revolutionize the Security and Automotive camera/ADAS market."
Rosenblatt said it continues recommending shares as the company's pipeline of design wins continue to ramp into production.
Needham Sees Share Price Appreciation: Ambarella's third-quarter beat was driven by a solid gross margin beat, Bolton said in a note.
With Security expected to grow in low-double digits sequentially and Automotive likely increasing by more than 20% both year-over-year and sequentially, the company's fourth-quarter revenue guidance is a solid beat, the analyst said.
The non-GAAP gross margin guidance is below Needham's estimate due to a change in product mix that will likely increase Hikvision and Dahua revenues and decrease consumer revenues, he said.
"We believe as the revenue and design activity grows for Ambarella's CV processors, AMBA's share price will move higher."
Probability Of Beat-And-Raise Quarters Increasing, Morgan Stanley Says: The better-than-expected results from Ambarella are a byproduct of continued embryonic growth of CV, strength in the consumer platform, including consumer surveillance, and a rebound in automotive production, Moore said in a note.
"We continue to think that this company is turning the corner, and that the perception will change over the next few quarters as computer vision becomes the most important factor for growth - at the same time that the legacy video processing is likely bottoming out," the analyst said.
The probability of continued beat-and-raise quarters is increasing, Moore said. Although the early nature of computer vision limits earnings, Ambarella is emerging as a growth stock in a market that has been paying a premium for semiconductor growth, he said.
Valuation Keeps KeyBanc On The Sidelines: Ambarella is seeing troughing demand in its IP security business as Hikvision and Dahua have begun working through its excess inventory and started ordering again, and also from the ramp of CV, Vinh said in a note.
Based on the guidance, KeyBanc raised its estimates but remains on the sidelines due to valuation.
Summit Sees Meaningful Tailwinds for Ambarella: The pandemic and U.S.-China trade restriction headwinds are now mostly behind the company, Chan said in a note.
The U.S. export control restrictions against Huawei/HiSilicon are now benefiting Ambarella, as more Chinese customers are embracing its SoC solutions, the analyst said.
"We remain excited about the industry adoption of computer vision (CV) based video cameras and believe AMBA stands to benefit most from this industry transition."
The analyst expects meaningful tailwinds for the company heading into 2021.
AMBA Price Action: At last check, Ambarella shares were rallying 13.43% to $75.28.


text:
Inflation in the US, as measured by the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), declined to 3.2% on a yearly basis in October, the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported on Tuesday.
US inflation data is important as it has a direct influence on market positioning regarding the Fed’s rate outlook, especially after Jerome Powell, Fed Chair, said that they were not confident that they had achieved a sufficiently restrictive policy stance to bring inflation down to 2%.
Many other signs appeared to show the importance of inflation data, especially for the interest rate at the next meeting, as Fed Vice Chair Philip N. Jefferson said before the release of data today that some measures of economic uncertainty, particularly inflation, are elevated. “The uncertainty around inflation persistence may warrant a stronger policy response than otherwise,” Jefferson added.
At the time of releasing the data, the US Dollar Index was down 0.65% on the day at 105.00. The CPI new release decreases market expectations for a hike in the interest rate at the next policy meeting. The spot gold price increased to 1953.760 at 09:02 EST.


text:
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is fining Wells Fargo $100 million over the banking giant’s longstanding habit of opening unauthorized accounts and credit cards for customers.
Wells Fargo staffers opened more than 1.5 million deposit accounts and nearly 600,000 credit card accounts for customers who’d never asked for them or signed papers authorizing them. The bank will pay another $85 million in penalties to Los Angeles and the federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. It must also deliver $2.5 million in direct restitution to the customers it cheated.
The bank has fired roughly 5,300 people over the unauthorized product sales, the CFPB order says.
The people fired don’t fit the cultural image of bankers. These aren’t pinstriped limo-riders who light cigars with hundred dollar bills.
Like most American megabanks, Wells Fargo relies on poorly paid retail banking employees to staff its branches. The bank’s sales incentives and high-pressure work culture left these workers with an ugly choice: do the job correctly and get fired, or lie and maintain a steady income.
“We were constantly told we would end up working for McDonald’s,” a former Wells Fargo branch manager named Rita Murillo told the Los Angeles Times in 2013. “If we did not make the sales quotas… we had to stay for what felt like after-school detention, or report to a call session on Saturdays.”
Thursday’s fines and firings are the endpoint of a scandal that’s been public knowledge for nearly three years. Reports of forged signatures and ghost accounts have been coming out since the Times investigated Wells Fargo, which sells more add-on banking products to customers than any other American retail bank.
The 2013 exposé uncovered a top-to-bottom pressure-cooker culture throughout the firm, where managers reportedly “coached workers on how to inflate sales numbers.” The company’s sales quotas pitted workers’ job security against the financial interests of Wells Fargo clients. In one example, a homeless woman who needed one account to receive Social Security checks instead got talked “into opening six checking and savings accounts with fees totaling $39 a month.”
At the time, the bank defended its business practices by noting that bank tellers only get about 3 percent of their pay from sales incentives. But that factoid conceals more than it clarifies.
Nationwide, bank wages fell by 3.4 percent relative to the cost of living from 2009 to 2014, according to the National Employment Law Project. In its latest report this summer, the group notes that hard-sell sales incentives are widespread in the industry, setting millions more workers and banking customers up for the kind of swindle that Wells Fargo has been caught in.
Bank tellers subsist on wages so low that three in 10 were enrolled in at least one public assistance program for the poor as of 2013. The country’s half-million bank tellers earn a median hourly wage of $12.44, and three out of four make less than $15 an hour.
These are the people ultimately being punished in the Wells Fargo scandal. The corporation itself will easily pay its $185 million in fines and keep on humming. It turns a nearly $6 billion profit every three months, on more than $22 billion in total quarterly revenue.
While the fat-cat types at Wells Fargo’s corporate level will survive and move on from this scandal, the penalties announced Thursday nonetheless speak to a key link in the progressive legacy of the Obama era. In prior years, with no Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cop on the beat, such swindles might never have come to light — and would have been far more lightly punished.
Thursday’s penalty is the largest single fine the CFPB has levied to date. Thousands of victims will get full restitution. The agency has now imposed more than $5 billion in fines since its inception in 2010. It has won well over $11 billion in consumer relief from industry cheaters for more than 27 million individual Americans.


text:
MANHATTAN, KANSAS, U.S. — Kansas State University’s (KSU) Department of Grain Science and Industry is offering a new study emphasis on pet food manufacturing due to a new uptick in how we relate to animals.
According to a 2015 article on PetfoodIndustry.com, pet food manufacturers in the Kansas City animal Health Corridor account for more than half of all pet-food sales in the United States. These companies provide more than 2,000 jobs to the area.
“There has been an evolution of the way we look at companion animals,” said Greg Aldrich, a research associate professor in the department and the Pet Food Program coordinator. “They’ve moved from being outside our home — on farms they were barnyard security and rodent control — to living inside the house. They’re sharing our house, sharing our kitchens and in some cases even sharing our beds.
“They’ve become members of the family. There is an increasing awareness of the foods they eat and what we need to do to provide them with adequate diets.”
While not a true “major” or dedicated field of study, the new pet food emphasis will offer a variety of courses that students can take to add extra depth to other majors.
Among the options KSU offers:
- Pet-food emphasis area in the feed science and management degree option.
- Pet-food minor for students in other disciplines:
- Animal sciences and industry
- Agricultural technology management
- Agricultural economics
“They can pick up those same 15 to 17 hours and get a minor on their transcript,” Aldrich said. “I’m also training master’s and PhD students in this whole area, to teach them how to do research and become the next generation of research scientists.”
Another driving force behind the pet food emphasis is regulation. The 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act, which shifts the emphasis of federal regulations and manpower from tracking foodborne illness, to preventing it. Aldrich said the act says pet food has to be as safe, or safer in some cases, than human food.
“Making it better is no longer just about making pet food crunchy or flavorful or convenient,” he said. “It’s also about making sure we have a safe and effective delivery device that doesn’t cause harm to the pet and doesn’t bring pathogens into our homes.”
Some courses in the curriculum include feed management for large groups such as kennels, pet food nutrition, dietetics, extrusion manufacturing and sensory analysis, which Aldrich said is a rapidly growing area for pet food companies.
“Just like human infants, our pets have no verbal skills — they can’t talk to us and tell us if they like or dislike something,” Aldrich said. “So we end up trying to come up with methodology that allows us to look at their behavior, to tell us whether or not something is preferred or liked, or whether something is rejected.
“And the big question is ‘Why?’ What is it about that food or preparation they really liked? That’s the holy grail — getting the dogs to talk to us. So teaching students on sensory cues and how to evaluate behavior is very critical.”


text:
NewsWhip, a graduate of the NDRC Launchpad incubator program, has received funding believed to be in the region of $1 million from Hal Philipp, founder and former CEO of Quantum Research Group, and Shane Naughton, a founder and former CTO of TaxStream.
Described by TechCrunch as ‘an alternative to Google News’ the NewsWhip service creates a news stream of the most popular stories based on social media activity including the number of shares, likes and retweets on Facebook and Twitter. Unlike other competitors, NewsWhip takes social signals from the entire web rather than just a particular user’s contacts.
“We work off what everyone is sharing within a given topic (like fashion, business, tech). Less echo chamber of your social graph, more wide open view of the world’s conversation”, said co-founder and CEO Paul Quigley.
NewsWhip also has a professional product called ‘Spike’ which is currently being trialled with newsrooms which will eventually become a subscription based service.
The company was founded by Quigley, a lawyer by trade, and Andrew Mullaney, the company’s CTO, a computer engineer who previously worked with Accenture and who founded EasyDeals, and it won NDRC investment in December 2011.


text:
Highlights of the Month – February
4 min read
4 min read
by Milica Stankić
At the beginning of this month, Google announced a revolutionary approach: simultaneously utilizing text and images. Through the multi-search feature in Lens, you can transcend the limitations of the search bar. The technology behind this multi-search is an AI-powered system that can comprehend information in diverse formats such as text, photos, and videos. It can establish connections and insights between topics, concepts, and ideas. Google has integrated this system into its Google Lens visual search functionality, enabling users to augment their visual search queries with text.
Meta has launched a messaging tool for creators and this feature will allow creators to send messages to all their followers at once in a one-way group chat format. While followers can react to content and participate in polls, they cannot write back. The tool’s objective is to enable creators to keep their followers informed about the latest updates and behind-the-scenes moments using various media formats such as text, photo, video, voice notes, and polls. It’s coming up for select creators in the U.S. and will expand the feature in the following months.
There is no wonder that TikTok users are increasingly referring to the app as a sort of search engine, especially the younger generations that are used to online referential and shopping. This new In-stream shopping enables a shop overview and a direct purchase option, all within the app itself, as opposed to the regular TikTok shop process, which reverts users back to the retailer’s website to convert. For now, it has been launched in the US but is expected to be live for all international users soon.
Last week Meta Platforms announced that a new monthly subscription service will be introduced to the users. Meta Verified should let users verify their accounts using a government ID and get a blue badge. This option would enable content creators to grow and build communities. For starters, it will cost $11.99 per month on the web or $14.99 a month on Apple’s iOS system and Android. After Twitter, this option will now cover almost all social media platforms, with Snapchat and Telegram launching subscriptions at the end of last year.
YouTube is introducing a new approach to using Shorts as part of its community engagement process, and it also wants to support Shorts producers by assisting them in getting more subscribers through their videos. Creators now have the choice to respond to a comment with a little video rather than another written message, and the original comment is instantly highlighted in a sticker in the new short. By allowing users to reply with a Short in the comments stream, YouTube is attempting to make Shorts a more responsive engagement option.
Google Cloud has launched a range of updated and new artificial intelligence (AI) technologies designed to help retailers in enhancing their in-store inventory shelf-checking, online shopping, and providing personalized searches and recommendations. These advances are set to revolutionize the online shopping experience, making it more intuitive and personalized for all users. Moreover, this AI technology will enable retailers to create more modern, faster, and fulfilling online browsing and product discovery experiences for their customers. One such innovation is Google Cloud’s new AI-driven personalization capability that customizes search results and browsing options on a retailer’s website for each individual customer.
Any reuse, transmission, republication, duplication, or distribution of this article and graphics, without the express written permission of Aryxe is not allowed. If you wish to reuse, transmit, republish, duplicate or distribute this article, cite passages, or use in full, including but not limited to proprietary text and graphics, please request written permission.


text:
Batavia, N.Y. - “Alpina Foods,” a new yogurt plant, officially opens Monday in Genesee County.
There will be a ceremony in Batavia for the Columbia-based company.
The company indicated it expects to hire 50 workers.
Alpina Foods makes dairy products including baby food and yogurt. The brands include Restart Yogurt and Revive Greek Yogurt.
The new facility will be at the Genesee Valley Agri-Business Park.


text:
A team of researchers has developed a new way to power wearable electronics, using a soft battery, the thickness of only one millimeter, which can be extended on the skin as a patch.
Handheld and flexible sensors promise a wide range of applications, including such things as health monitoring, sale of tickets for sports events and robots with tactile sensations. Some of them must be connected to an external power source, while others have shown the ability to collect the mechanical energy of motion to be charged independently.
In search of interesting solutions of energy supply, which is lightweight and suitable for applications such mechanics, an international team of researchers led by materials scientists scientist John Rogers (John Rogers) from the University of Illinois, offers a completely new kind of battery.
To solve some of the problems in the creation of flexible power sources, the researchers cut a conventional lithium-ion battery with a tiny ultra-thin tiles. These tiles were then connected to wires and the array was integrated into soft, elastic material, and then covered with a final layer of hard rubber. The upper part of the battery cells, along with biosensors and chips, covered with layers of tiny solar cells.
The result is a waterproof device superthin and because the wires that connect the tiles, actually longer than the space between them, the battery is able to stretch. Testing has also shown that it can be stretched up to 30 percent while maintaining its functionality.
Command tells that the device, which shows the concept of the work can be attached to a person's skin as a patch to ensure working biosensor. It can also potentially be incorporated into smart clothes to provide new methods of energy storage.


text:
Socios.com has roped in Lionel Messi as their Global Brand Ambassador
Socios.com have announced Lionel Messi as their Global Brand Ambassador. An initial 3-year deal worth $20 million signed between the parties would see Messi promote Socios.com to his 400 million followers on social media. The objective is to bring fans around the world to come together and share their passion for their favorite team by joining one of the most empowered and interactive communities in the sporting world. The Argentine would feature in several educational and promotional campaigns starting with a debut Socios.com brand campaign.
Tie up between Socios and Messi
With the announcement of this deal, Messi has become the latest sports personality to enter the crypto world following Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarter-back Tom Brady and Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James. With a portfolio consisting of more than 130 sports organizations, Socios.com has been at the forefront of leading a revolution in the crypto space and the move of bringing onboard one of the most popular footballer player highlights their growing ambition to dominate the crypto space.
“Once in a generation talent like Lionel Messi make the beautiful game extra special for fans”. “At Socios.com, what we are trying to do is ensure that fans, wherever they are in the world, feel that their support is valued, that it matters, that it is special”. “We are delighted to announce Lionel Messi as our new Global Brand Ambassador and look forward to building a more inclusive, exciting and rewarding future for fans across the world together. We have taken great strides forward in the last few years, but, if football fans know one thing, it’s that with Lionel Messi on your side anything is possible.” Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Socios.com
“Since I played my first professional game the passion of the fans has been a driving force that has helped inspire me to be my very best”. “Fans deserve to be recognized for their support. They deserve opportunities to influence the teams they love”. “Socios.com exists to enhance the fan experience, to enable fans to ‘be more’. I’m proud to join Socios.com’s mission to create a more connected and rewarding future for fans around the world.” Lionel Messi
More from Socios
Socios plans to run at least 500 polls this year for its growing community of fan token holders, fans here will have a say on different matters ranging from kit designs to squad numbers and celebration songs. Fan Token holders will also receive unique digital rewards including NFTs as well as merchandise and match-worn jerseys while being eligible to access exclusive discounts linked to club sponsors and other special offers linked to major brands.


text:
Rising credit card and UPI bills imply towards boom in intake amid a recovery in monetary activities with the ebbing effect of the Covid pandemic, said, specialists and market players. According to the RBI’s month-to-month statistics, the Unified bills Interface (UPI) transaction extended from Rs 9.83 lakh crore in April this year to Rs 10.73 lakh crore in August.
Similarly, credit score card spending through the PoS (point of Sale) terminal increased from Rs 29,988 crore in April this year to Rs 32,383 crore in August. The credit card spending on e-commerce systems, which was worth Rs 51,375 crore in April, rose to Rs 55,264 crore in August.
About UPI And Its Benefits
A Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a machine that powers more than one bank bill into a cell application (of any collaborating financial institution). It merges several banking features, unified account direction-finding & facilitates benefactor bills into one cover. UPI is an instantaneous real-time price device that powers a couple of financial institution accounts into a single mobile utility and helps inter-bank transactions by the use of a cell phone.
Professionals say that the linkage should lead to an upward thrust in acceptability as many merchants don’t have credit score card PoS terminals, particularly in semi-city and rural regions, but most of them have UPI QR code-based attractiveness.
It is going to help customers who want to use credit cards for its reward advantage and UPI for its ease of use and security. Unified bills Interface or UPI has developed as the most popular payment device in India that permits customers to make actual-time bills via current or financial savings debts linked with debit playing cards.
One would no longer have to consider too many details to perform transactions, as UPI has made the coins switch system loads easier. You may attain an everyday restriction if You try to ship more than ₹1,00,000 sooner or later across all UPI apps, you try and ship money more than 10 instances in one day throughout all UPI apps, or you request extra than ₹2,000 from someone.
UPI transaction limit SBI (per transaction) is Rs 1,00,000, as decided via NPCI. There is no restriction in keeping with a week or consistent with the month value of UPI transfer.
Views Of Experts on An Increased Use Of UPI
Rama Mohan Rao Amara, MD, and CEO, SBI Card, stated that the credit cards have grown at a Compounded Annual growth fee (CAGR) of 16 percent between FY17 and FY22, as in step with the RBI’s enterprise statistics. Experts and marketplace players are of the view that the boom in quantity and value of digital transactions bode properly for the economic system. It shows that purchasers are increasingly becoming familiar with one-of-a-kind modes of virtual payments, and giving up their inhibitions.
Anand Kumar Bajaj, founder, MD & CEO, PayNearby, opined that the boom in extent and cost of payments completed through cards and UPI paints an excellent picture of the virtual bill’s panorama in India. With the better acceptance and use of credit cards, there has been an extra upsurge in expenditures. Over the previous few months, the industry has seen monthly credit score card spending crossing Rs 1 lakh-crore quantum continually, indicating a strong consumption pattern. With the approaching festive season, there may be expectations and anticipation all around.
The government’s push for digital transactions, rising profits, growing use of smartphones, and improvement in internet connectivity are assisting the increase of online bills. Except, an increasing number of merchants are deploying virtual fee infrastructure. Mandar Agashe, MD & Vice President, of Sarvatra technology, commented that the upward push in expenditure levels implies a pickup in intake because the pandemic-precipitated uncertainty nearly dissipates, and markets go back to normalcy.
Agashe added that July and August were in most cases marked using sale seasons throughout e-commerce systems and various gives made on hand through merchants to encourage transactions through UPI. UPI is similarly predicted to boom for the duration of the cutting-edge pageant season due to rising calls from Tier-II and III cities optimistically embracing the UPI channel for their transactions.
Anurag Sinha, CEO & Founder, OneCard & OneScore, said that the rise in each quantity and fee of bills in recent months across systems reflected the power of the retail economy in addition to the revival of client confidence.
For the remaining month, the Reserve bank of India sought perspectives from the public on prices and charges in price systems, with the purpose to make such transactions low-cost as well as economically remunerative for the entities concerned.
Costs in a price device are the prices imposed by the fee service carriers (PSPs) on the users (originators or beneficiaries) for facilitating a virtual transaction. The costs are recovered from the originators or the beneficiaries depending on the kind of fee machine.
Market experts added further that usually, traveling, fun, and eatery classes are one of the key categories for customers when it is to online expenditures by credit cards.


text:
Vodafone NZ is teaming up with Amazon Web Services (AWS) to implement the Amazon Connect cloud contact centre and provide personalised and enhanced customer experiences.
Implementing Amazon Connect would simplify contact centre operations and unlock insights to provide new and innovative ways to engage with customers, the telco said today.
Amazon Connect also opened the door to using AWS' artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning services to automate interactions and improve service.
In July, Vodafone NZ launched a white label Amazon Connect service, called Vodafone Connect, to local customers.
It encompasses both voice and chat-based services to offer customers a personalised, intuitive experience, reduced wait times, and faster resolution of issues.
“Amazon Connect offers best-in-class technology and will enhance our digital customer service across all interaction channels,” said Antony Welton, customer operations director at Vodafone NZ.
“Customers can expect to see the technology progressively rolled out over the next ten months and we’re confident they will benefit from a superior customer experience."
The Amazon Connect project would complement people-focused initiatives such as Vodafone NZ's "X Squad"and efforts to better equip agents with the tools they need to improve our customer experience.
“We’ve already seen a 35 per cent improvement in our ‘first time fix’ metric, meaning a customer’s problem is solved the first time they call us, as well as vastly improved customer satisfaction metrics, and we are confident this new technology platform will help us to lift our game even further," Welton said.
Nick Walton, managing director for commercial sector at AWS NZ, said Vodafone NZ was a great example of how the cloud and machine learning technologies were transforming the way organisations were improving their customer experience.
"Amazon Connect will provide Vodafone NZ with a scalable contact centre solution that can adjust to the changing needs of its customers in real-time and will enable Vodafone NZ to engage with their customers easily and naturally,” he said.
Vodafone NZ’s implemented Amazon Connect Chat functionality in May, enabling a unified contact centre service for voice and chat.
The telco's contact centre receives around 1.7 million customer service calls a month.


text:
Besides this mornings news that the new Google Maps will soon be heading our way, Google has also confirmed that Latitude, their location sharing, will be retired on August 9. After this date the Latitude for iPhone application will stop working, along with any other Latitude API based applications. Someone, somewhere may shed a little tear, but while it may be gone, location sharing shall live on at Google in a different guise.
Location sharing from Google is being shifted across to Google+, so Latitude fans will still be able to get their fix in some way. Android already has location sharing in the Google+ app, and the iOS version will be updated at some point soon to get the same abilities. I'm not sure it was ever the most popular product from Google, certainly not with iOS users, but is there anyone out there who's going to miss Latitude?
New report claims the next iPad Air will switch to USB-C just like iPad Pro
Could the next iPad Air be the second iPad to move away from Lightning? One report thinks so.
You can own a former Apple CEO's California home for just $37.5 million
Former Apple CEO Mike Markkula might not be as infamous as Steve Jobs but he still managed to rack up enough cash to pick up a pretty swanky home in California. And it could be yours for a snip at just $37.5 million.
Eufy clears up HomeKit delay for its indoor cameras
Eufy has sought to clear up some confusion about HomeKit support for its Indoor Cam 2K and Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt hardware. It's still coming, and it'll have HomeKit Secure Video to boot.
Get back on task with these Wunderlist alternatives for iPhone and Mac
Upset Wunderlist is no more? Here are some solutions to get you back on task.


text:
With vast levels of bucks in month-to-month origination and step-by-step players like Lending Club, alternative funding is actually main-stream in america. ExperianвЂ™s Clarity Services, a specialist in alternative monetary solutions information and solutions, has released a report en en titled Alternative Financial Services payday loan debt lawyer Tishomingo Lending designs. It offers deep insights to your customer this is certainly industry that is online leverages information points of over 350 million consumer applications and 25 million loans.
The report tossed a lot of expected information plus some shocks which will help online lenders pivot to more territory this is certainly fertile.
Understanding the systems
Alternate solutions that are monetary be obtained from both on the web and offline platforms.
Though online platforms are mushrooming, mortar and stone nonetheless is still major in to the client funding industry.
Forms of loans
- Installment loans вЂ“ Loans repaid in amount of regular re re re payments (months or years) are known as installment loans.
- Solitary pay вЂ“ Solitary pay loans are reimbursed in one re re payment ( Lump quantity) as well as in many cases have really really a shorter tenure (days/weeks).
Market Styles- Product Mix
Most people are tuned in to the understood indisputable fact that online funding has exploded, however the development numbers presented by Clarity are staggering. After is the charts that capture the growth pattern of online installments and online single pay loans in connection to funded loan amount as well as the number of funded loans from 2014 to 2018.
The internet installment loans marked a growth of approximately 643% in 2018 starting with 2014 whereas the pay this is certainly market that is single in four years.
Exactly How numerous loans analysis threw similar development numbers when the loan quantity analytics.
Information indicates that on the web installments loans will be the option that is best inside the lending area this is certainly alternate. Just how many borrowers that are unique grown by 30% when it comes to past 3 years.
- Loan amount вЂ“ almost 60% of loans fallen concerning the $500 to $2000 range in 2018, increasing from 43% out of all the loans in 2014. Simply 15% in connection with loans which can be funded under $500 in 2018. Which means typical loan volume is increasing for the foundation that is year-on-year.
- Loan Tenure вЂ“ Maximum loans (over 62%) possessed a re re re payment level of over 7 months in 2018 whereas simply 9% online installment loans have re payment duration of lower than three months.
- Planned re payment that is monthly вЂ“ The payment every month quantities have really declined as time passes. Around 34% of month-to-month repayments was in fact less than $200 in 2018. This volume is a rise from 17% in 2015.
Solitary Pay Loans
- Loan Amount вЂ“ Loans above $500 grew from 23% to 28per cent between 2014 and 2018. The trend that is general towards that loan quantity this is certainly increasing.
A credit pages analysis reveals that online financing is finding advantage among not only the subprime category but additionally the prime and near-prime, being aggressively adopting alternative financing choices. Clarity reports that 29% of clients with a credit that is alternative dropped in the prime or near-prime groups in 2018 when compared to 21per cent in 2017.
- Age вЂ“ the world wide web installment borrowers was in fact a lot more than the online world pay that is solitary whereas the chronilogical age of installment and solitary pay loansвЂ™ borrowers remains the same with regards to the storefront channel.
- Income trend вЂ“ the net debtor reported a larger profits in comparison to one borrowing by means of a storefront.
To the portion this is certainly online profits values are generally greater for Installment loans than solitary pay loans.
- Information Points:
вЂ“ Forty-five per cent of online installment borrowers reported a annual profits over $40,000, while 37% of solitary pay borrowers reported incomes in this range.
вЂ“ Conversely, 15% of solitary pay borrowers reported money of less than $20,000, instead of just 8% of installment borrowers.
Ergo consumers dropping under the band of on line installment loans will have an increased likely earnings when compared to other sub-groups.
- Consumer Selection вЂ“ individuals that prefer privacy opted for online financing whereas the individuals that were searching for a dependable individualized experience went with regards to storefront choice.
- Location вЂ“ Ca and Texas will be the obvious leaders due because of their size. Ohio is constant at third location when it comes to previous 3 years with Illinois throughout the 8 th position.
ClarityвЂ™s alternative credit loan information provides key learning points for several whenever you go through the alternative lending industry.
- The net Installment Loan market keeps growing along with the demographics help further development.
- The web installment loans are increasingly being increasingly viewed as a more impressive loan amounts, much much longer re payment terms, and smaller prepared re payment quantities.
- You’ll find very really very early indications and the signs of deterioration in credit performance.
- Over 50 percent for the internet borrowers in 2018 were a brand new comer to the lending room this is certainly alternate.
- Prospects a comer that is new the alternate funding area in 2018 have actually really greater fico ratings in comparison to those previously seen. But, 2017 borrowers who migrated to traditional funding in 2018 also had greater fico ratings in comparison to those who stayed with alternate financial solutions.
- Ca, Texas, and Ohio continue as the top three states for online funding in level of loans, while the biggest development in borrowers is the middle states like Nebraska and Kentucky.
Insight: Online Lenders could be well wanted to figure out habits like an increase in loan quantity and loan tenure plus the enhance of center America to find hassle-free financial loans.


text:
April 23, 2009
Organizations issue four-step plan calling for mandatory alcohol labeling and more resources to combat underage drinking
Contact: 202-835-3323, email@example.com
Washington, DC — A coalition of public interest groups today called on Congress and the Obama Administration to overturn decades of inattention to the nation’s alcohol policies by finally issuing a useful final regulation to require standardized labeling information on beer, wine and distilled spirits products and providing the government resources needed to address such pressing problems as underage drinking, binge drinking, and drunk driving.
Using the observance of National Alcohol Awareness Month to rally attention, four leading nutrition and consumer advocacy organizations — Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of America, the National Consumers League, and Shape Up America! — released a new action plan, Alcohol Policy for the 21st Century: A Platform to Give Americans the Facts to Drink Responsibly, intended to bring the nation’s policies into the 21st century. Issued as a nationwide call to action, the platform urges the new Administration and Congress to make meaningful changes both in how information about the content of alcoholic beverages is communicated to the public and how the nation mobilizes to reduce underage drinking.
Specifically, the platform urges swift action on four regulatory and legislative measures:
- Gaining swift action by the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) to issue a final regulation that requires complete and easy-to-read labeling information on all beer, wine and distilled spirits products. To provide the information needed for consumers to make informed purchasing and consumption decisions, the advocates continue to press for a standardized “Alcohol Facts” panel that lists the alcohol content, the amount of alcohol per serving, the definition of a standard drink, the number of calories and facts about other ingredients.
- Enlisting the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to make increased access to alcohol content information a new national health objective when HHS issues Healthy People 2020, the updated ten-year health goals, in early 2010.
- Including detailed advice on responsible alcohol consumption levels for the public when HHS and the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) release the revised Dietary Guidelines for Americans in 2010, with a specific focus on what constitutes a “standard drink” and the calorie content of “non-standard” mixed alcoholic drinks now gaining in popularity.
- Gaining Congressional passage of the “Support 21 Act of 2009,” which will expand the nation’s underage drinking prevention efforts by allocating an additional $35.5 million to federal and state programs.
Among these actions, the top priority for the public health community is for TTB to move quickly to issue a consumer friendly final alcohol labeling regulation. This step would end the stalemate in modernizing beverage alcohol labels that traces back to 1972, when consumer organizations first asked the federal government to require meaningful alcohol labeling. In 2003, the National Consumers League, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, Consumer Federation of America and 75 other public health and consumer organizations submitted a formal petition to TTB resulting in the agency issuing an “advanced notice of proposed rulemaking” in April 2005. Then, in 2007, TTB proposed a mandatory “Serving Facts” panel on beer, wine and distilled spirits that left out alcohol content and the amount of alcohol in a serving and was widely attacked by consumer groups and the public health community for being incomplete.
“There is no debate within the public health and consumer community about the need for mandatory and complete alcohol labeling,” said Chris Waldrop, Director of the Food Policy Institute at the Consumer Federation of America. “It’s time to give consumers the same helpful and easily accessible labeling information that is now required for conventional foods, dietary supplements, and nonprescription drugs.”
Although TTB’s 2007 actions were roundly criticized, the advocacy groups believe the record in the current rulemaking is sufficient for the agency to act now to issue a final alcohol labeling regulation in 2009. The advocates also urge TTB to consult with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the most effective format and graphic design for the “Alcohol Facts” label.
George Hacker, Director of CSPI’s Alcohol Policies Project, said: “TTB has had a comprehensive response to its haphazard rulemaking to develop labels that will be helpful to consumers in measuring and moderating their alcohol consumption. The agency should accept the guidance it has received and find the political will to act.”
From a public health perspective, the advocacy organizations also urge HHS and USDA to provide detailed information on what constitutes a “standard drink” and the calorie content of popular “non-standard” mixed alcoholic drinks when the departments issue the updated Dietary Guidelines for Americans in 2010. The reason, according to the advocates, is insufficient information in the marketplace for consumers to know what constitutes a “standard drink” — 12 ounces of regular beer, 5 ounces of wine and 1.5 ounces of 80-proof (40%) distilled spirits — and to understand that standard serving sizes of beer, wine and spirits are equal in alcohol strength and their effect on the body. As a result, research finds nearly 20 percent of current drinkers regularly consume more than the up to two standard drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women that the Dietary Guidelines defines a moderate drinking.
“Those consumers who choose to drink absolutely need alcohol and calorie information per serving to help them comply with recommendations in the Dietary Guidelines,” said Sally Greenberg, Executive Director of the National Consumers League. “Without it, alcohol consumers continue to be left in the dark.”
The alcohol platform encourages HHS to add specific objectives to the upcoming Healthy People 2020 national health goals that reflect the current scientific knowledge about the calorie content of alcoholic beverages. Because alcohol is metabolized quite differently from these other macronutrients and provides 7 calories per gram compared to 4 calories per gram for carbohydrates, increased access to alcohol content information through nutrition counseling and government education initiatives is needed both to combat the obesity epidemic and to reduce alcohol-related mortality resulting from hypertension, liver disease and certain cancers, as well as injury.
“To encourage weight management and reduce the health risks associated with alcohol requires that the 55 percent of adult Americans who drink have the information they need to make responsible decisions,” said Barbara J. Moore, Ph.D., president of Shape Up America!, “Anything less is a setback for public health.”
Addressing the pervasive problem of underage drinking, the platform calls on Congress to pass H.R. 1028 — the “Support 21 Act of 2009” — which allocates an additional $35.5 million to federal and state efforts to reduce underage drinking. Recognizing that lowering the drinking age is not the answer, the bill focuses on delaying alcohol use through education and a stronger focus within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on disseminating research on effective strategies to reduce underage drinking. The bill also calls for a National Academies of Science report on available research regarding the impact of alcohol on adolescent brain development and the public policy implications of that research.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), underage drinkers are responsible for 11 percent of all the beverage alcohol consumed in the U.S. and on average, consume more drinks per occasion than adults. Moreover, new research on brain development shows that adolescent brains are not fully developed before age 21, and alcohol abuse damages this development process.
About the Center for Science in the Public Interest
Since 1971, the Center for Science in the Public Interest has been a strong advocate for nutrition and health, food safety, alcohol policy, and sound science. Founded by executive director Michael Jacobson, Ph.D. and two other scientists, CSPI has long sought to educate the public, advocate government policies that are consistent with scientific evidence on health and environmental issues, and counter industry’s powerful influence on public opinion and public policies.
About the Consumer Federation of America
Consumer Federation of America is a non-profit association of some 300 organizations, with a combined membership of over 50 million Americans. Since its founding in 1968, CFA has worked to advance the interest of American consumers through research, education and advocacy. CFA’s Food Policy Institute was created in 1999 and engages in research, education and advocacy on food and agricultural policy, agricultural biotechnology, food safety and nutrition.
About the National Consumers League
Founded in 1899, the National Consumers League is America’s pioneer consumer organization. Its mission is to protect and promote social and economic justice for consumers and workers in the United States and abroad. NCL is a private, nonprofit membership organization. For more information, visit www.nclnet.org.
About Shape Up America!
Shape Up America! was founded in 1994 by former U.S. Surgeon General C. Everett Koop to raise awareness of the health effects of obesity and to provide responsible information on weight management to the public and to health care professionals. The organization maintains an award winning website – www.shapeup.org – accessed by more than 100,000 visitors each month and an “opt-in” e-newsletter with more than 24,000 subscribers.


text:
Angora lovers everywhere should hope that they got every item made with angora that Zara had to offer under the Christmas tree two months ago, because on the morning of February 9th, 2015, Inditex, the parent company of Zara and Massimo Dutti, announced that it has stopped using angora due to cruelty to the rabbits that the fur is plucked from in China. A spokeswoman for Inditex commented in a press release saying, “The Angora products have been removed from our stores, in particular items that were in last year’s autumn and winter collections.”
Part of this was due to Inditex bowing to increasing pressure from animal rights group Peta. Peta launched an effort in 2013 to try and get designers and fashion companies to stop using angora, and they have now managed to get Inditex to join a list of brands including H&M, Topshop, and Primark in forbidding the use of angora in their products. While angora can also be extracted from goats and cats, the majority of angora does come from rabbits.
While there are no animal protection laws in China forbidding this, Inditex has agreed to stop selling angora products in all 6400 of their stores worldwide. The good news is, instead of merely discarding warehouse items made from Angora, Inditex has decided to donate all their Angora products, which is a total of 20,000 items valued collectively at 878,000 dollars, to Syrian refugees in Lebanon. While an end may have been brought about to Zara’s fashionable angora products at least it is going towards a good cause.
Inditex had originally intended to only suspend their orders of Angora products until it could very that Angora supply farmers were in compliance with company standards on how Angora was produced. While Inditex denies that was any evidence of animal cruelty, the company decided after consulting with animal rights activists and trying to find more sustainable ways to produce angora that their next approach would be to halt use of angora all together. While customers might have to bid goodbye to Zara’s selection of angora products, rest assured the global retailer still has plenty of warm wool options, although those angora hats and sweaters will be sorely missed, especially during a cold winter’s day.


text:
The end of cheap alcohol: Supermarkets to be banned from selling wine, beer and spirits below a national 'minimum price'
A national 'minimum price' will be set for wine, beer and spirits in new plans to be unveiled by the Government this week.
In a bid to combat binge drinking, the Coalition plans to use a formula first devised by Asda supermarket in which it is forbidden to sell alcohol below a certain price. Any retailer found to be in breach of the new rules would risk losing their licence.
The 'minimum price' is calculated by adding the cost of duty on the product with the VAT.
Proposal: The Government wants to introduce a minimum price for alcohol sold in supermarkets (file picture)
It means that a litre bottle of spirit could not be sold for under £10.50 and a 20-pack of beer would have a minimum price of £8.50, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
It follows news of a ground-breaking by-law drawn up in Greater Manchester in a bid to cut hospital
Those plans would see a minimum price set of 50p per unit of alcohol -
meaning a bottle of wine would cost a minimum of £4.50, and a two-litre
bottle of cider £5.50.
The by-law would also end pub loyalty-card schemes, with anyone who breaks the rules being hit with a £500 fine.
The draft was drawn up by the leaders of Greater Manchester's ten councils and would make the region the first place in the country to outlaw cheap drink.
Town hall chiefs say they want to force the introduction of a national minimum-price plan and say the new rules would reduce the number of people admitted to hospital because of alcohol by nearly 5,000 a year.
The by-law quickly won the backing of Prime Minister David Cameron, who said he would look at the draft 'very sympathetically'. He has often criticised Britain's binge drinking culture, describing supermarket deals as '20 tins of Stella for a fiver'.
Councils in Cheshire, Merseyside, Sussex and Devon - as well as the Welsh Assembly and the government of Jersey - have considered following suit.
But plans for a 45p minimum were voted down in the Scottish parliament, despite the support of leading doctors and police.
A report on the first draft of the by-law will be discussed by council chiefs on Friday.
Stockport council chief executive Eamonn Boylan, who drew up the document, said it was still 'a work in progress'.
He said a country-wide ban was the best way to curb high levels of alcohol harm.
But he said Greater Manchester would continue to push forward with the by-law in the meantime. Mr Boylan's paper includes the first draft of the by-law.
It reads: 'No individual, business, company or temporary licence holder based within the area, whether classified as off-licence or on-licence, shall offer the public sale of alcohol at any time without exception at a price less than fifty pence, or equivalent value of euros at the time of sale, per unit of alcohol.'
The seven-section draft framework says that the unit content of any alcoholic drink must be 'clearly advertised' and forbids 'any loyalty, bonus, reward, discount or any other special offer' that would allow alcohol to be bought through an accrual scheme.
The minimum price would be reviewed every year.
Supermarket giants have objected to the plans and warned of people going to neighbouring towns and cities in search of lower-priced alcohol.
Mr Boylan said: 'This is still very much a work in progress.
'What our work has unearthed is evidence to support the case for minimum pricing.'
A special task group will now investigate the legal, economic, cross-border and enforcement implications of a by-law.
Most watched News videos
- Paedophile attacks girl 10, before being stopped by passer by
- Seven year old girl allegedly assaulted in toilet by stranger
- Shocking moment two women in Bradford brawl in the street
- Cell phone video captures men dancing with bikini clad women
- Driver who crashed a car into pub crowd is jailed for 12 years
- Horrifying moment vintage fighter jet crashes and explodes
- Daughter carried inside like a shopping bag after refusing to move
- P Diddy's late ex Kim Porter plays around with her kids
- Trump gets close to see California wildfire devastation
- Saudi woman posts Twitter clips wearing abaya inside out in protest
- Prime Minister says it's too early to announce new Brexit secretary
- Pioneer BBC newsreader Richard Baker introduces his final bulletin


text:
41% of TV viewers say they would never act on a commercial, regardless of the device they’re using to watch TV, according to results from a Viamedia survey conducted by Harris Interactive. Of course, even if those figures are correct (most research finds TV ads to be highly influential), the flip side is that 59%Â would act on a commercial – and there’s a solid argument to be made that that’s a high percentage. That debate aside, the survey results suggest that viewers who watch TV on a computer are most likely to act on a commercial. (Acting on a commercial could include seeking more information about a product or service, purchasing a product, or other such activities.)
The survey asked viewers on which of a number of devices they would be most likely to act on a commercial, with computers coming out on top (30%), followed by a TV (24%), smartphone (21%), and tablet (21%). Only 4% said they’d be most likely to act while watching on a smart TV. (It’s worth noting that the survey was conducted online, so the results may favor computers and mobile devices over traditional TV sets.)
Of course, that doesn’t mean that more Americans overall would respond to a TV ad viewed on a computer than on a regular TV. That’s because far more TV viewers watch broadcast and/or cable TV (87%) than watch on their computer (29%), tablet (29%) or smartphone (18%), according to the study’s results.
The study contains some interesting demographic breakdowns to its responses. Notably, among TV viewers, only 30% of 18-34-year-olds would never act on an ad regardless of the device they were watching it on, compared to the 41% average. Indeed, the results suggest a linear age pattern, where responsiveness tends to ebb alongside increasing age. (Other research has similarly found that TV ads prove more influential to younger age groups, despite older Americans watching far more TV.) Within this young group, there’s also a clear gender difference: just 22% of 18-34-year-old male viewers said they would never act on a TV ad, as opposed to 37% of female viewers of that age. (Overall, there was less of a gap between male viewers and female viewers, at 39% and 43%, respectively).
Separately, while there was no clear skew when sorting by education or income level (with the most and least affluent virtually tied), household size does appear to be a factor. That is, 47% of respondents who are the only member of their household said they would never act on an ad, compared to 26% of respondents coming from households with at least 5 people in them. Additionally, 45% of those without any children in the household said they’d never act on a TV, compared to 31% who have children in the household (and 26% with children under 6 years of age).
About the Data: The survey was conducted online within the United States by Harris Interactive on behalf of Viamedia from June 24-26, 2013 among 2,029 adults ages 18 and older, of whom 1,958 watch television programming. The online survey is not based on a probability sample and therefore no estimate of theoretical sampling error can be calculated.